Noises in the Fireplace? What's Living in Your Chimney

HWCS Expert Team

To a wild animal, a chimney looks exactly like a hollow tree—a perfect place to sleep, hide, or raise a family. Unfortunately for the homeowner, this often leads to noises in the fireplace, bad smells, or even an animal falling into the living room.

The Usual Suspects

1. Raccoons

Raccoons are excellent climbers. Female raccoons specifically look for chimneys to raise their kits (babies).

  • The Signs: Heavy thumping, vocalizations (chattering/crying babies) just above the damper.
  • The Danger: If you open the damper, the raccoon may fall into your house. If you start a fire, you will smoke them out (possibly into your house) or kill them, creating a blockage and a horrific smell.

2. Chimney Swifts

These small, cigar-shaped birds are unique. Unlike other birds, they cannot perch; they can only cling to vertical walls. They build nests inside chimneys using saliva to glue twigs to the brick.

  • Legal Protection: Chimney Swifts are federally protected. Once they have laid eggs, it is illegal to remove them until the babies have fledged and left on their own (usually late summer). You have to wait them out.

3. Squirrels and Birds

Sometimes, animals fall in and can’t get out. The smooth clay flue liners are too slippery for squirrels or ducks to climb. They will eventually die of dehydration if not rescued.

What To Do (And What Not To Do)

DO NOT:

  • Start a Fire: This is cruel and dangerous. A panicked animal may catch fire and run out onto your roof or fall into your living room, setting your house ablaze.
  • Open the Damper: Unless you want a raccoon running around your living room.

DO:

  • Listen: Try to determine if the animal is stuck (scratching frantically) or nesting (quiet periods followed by movement).
  • Call HWCS: We have specialized poles and traps to retrieve animals from chimneys safely.

Prevention: The Chimney Cap

The solution is simple: Cap it. A professional stainless steel chimney cap acts as a roof for your flue. It has a mesh screen that prevents animals (and debris/rain) from entering while allowing smoke to escape. If you don’t have a cap, or if yours is rusted out, it is only a matter of time before something moves in.